Laura Shmishkiss Bio
Laura Shmishkiss is an equity consultant, coach and trainer who has committed
her life to working for social justice, equity, and liberation. She brings 25 years of
experience as an educator, trainer, activist and organizational leader in both
nonprofit organizations and schools.
Most recently, Laura served as Executive Director at Center for Racial Justice in
Education, a nonprofit organization that trains educators to dismantle racism
wherever children learn. Laura’s past roles include Director at Bronx Community
High School, Senior Director of Programs at Coro New York Leadership Center,
and founder of Coro’s “Exploring Leadership Program,” a youth activism program
that partnered with New York City teens to organize for change in public
education. Laura has provided training, coaching and consulting to hundreds of
organizations and thousands of individuals across the United States.
Laura is an active white anti-racist trainer and organizer, who believes that all of
our struggles for liberation are bound together, and necessitate the dismantling
of white supremacy. As an herbalist in training, she believes that social justice
work is inseparable from healing work which is inseparable from restoring an
interdependent relationship with the land.
Laura earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Columbia
University’s School of International and Public Affairs, a Bachelor’s Degree in
Sociology from Colby College, and a teaching certification from San Francisco
State University. She was featured in The Limited’s “Leading Looks Like” campaign
which highlighted the unique ways in which women redefine and inspire
leadership. She also serves on the Board of Directors at Camp Kinderland, a 90-
year-old summer camp committed to social and racial justice.
Laura lives in Brooklyn, New York, and loves to spend time gardening in her
community, and nurtures her own vitality through dancing, running and practicing
yoga.